Books for Babies & Toddlers

A selection of books with content and imagery intended to appeal to your young one and help development. For more guidelines, view our printable pamphlet.

Updated November 7, 2024
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1

Besos for baby : a little book of kisses
Arena, Jen
Paper Book
From mami and papi to perro and gato, baby is giving kisses to everyone in this charming bilingual board book that gently infuses basic Spanish vocabulary on every page. The rhythmic, spare, and simple Spanish is accessible for both bilingual parents...

2

The very busy spider
Carle, Eric.
Paper Book
A VERY classic from Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done...

3

Stick
Dickson, Irene
Paper Book
A boy and his dog set off to play together one sunny day, taking nothing with them but a good stick. There are so many things you can do with a stick, especially if you use your imagination. You can throw it, balance with it, float it down a stream, and draw pictures in the sand. It might even help...

4

Hello baby!
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
After meeting a bevy of baby animals-- including a clever monkey, a sleepy leopard, and a dusty lion cub--the baby in this story discovers the most precious creature of all . . . itself, of course! With an exuberant rhyming text by bestselling author Mem Fox and adorable cut-paper illustrations by...

5

Time for bed
Fox, Mem
Paper Book
Celebrating 30 years of this essential bedtime book for babies and toddlers, this beautiful book is destined to lull wakeful little ones to sleep. An essential bedtime book for babies and toddlers. Soft, cozy illustrations of sleepy baby animals and their soothing parents are accompanied...

6

Orange pear apple bear
Gravett, Emily.
Paper Book
In only five words -- four of which are in the title -- Kate Greenaway Medalist Emily Gravett presents a delightful picture book that is "simple and stunning" (The Guardian), and "daring, original, and a joy" (Sunday Times, London).

7

From 1 to 10
Hout, Mies van
Paper Book
A bright and vivacious counting book for the very young featuring the paintings of renowned Dutch artist and author Mies van Hout How many whiskers does the cat have? How about the crocodile's teeth, or the octopus's arms? With vivid colours and energetic kid-friendly animal...

8

I hear a pickle : (and smell, see, touch, and taste it, too!)
Isadora, Rachel
Paper Book
* "Isadora's book about the five senses is aimed perfectly at another sense-kids' sense of humor."-The Horn Book, starred review Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora's sweet and simple introduction to the five senses is perfect for the youngest children, who will...

9

Peekaboo morning
Isadora, Rachel.
Paper Book
A toddler plays a game of peekaboo, and you're invited to play too. First there's Mommy to find, with Daddy not far behind. Then Puppy comes peeking around the corner, and a favorite toy train brings the toddler to Grandma and Grandpa. Isadora's brilliant, joyful pastel illustrations capture the...

10

My first day
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
The first day of life is different for every animal. Human newborns don't do much at all, but some animals hit the ground running. The Caldecott Honor-winning team Steve Jenkins and Robin Page apply their considerable talents to revealing how twenty two different species, from the...

11

Move!
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
Animals move! Follow them as they swing, dance, float, leap, and slide from page to page, then learn why these animals move the way they do, from the jumping spider who dances to impress and then floats away on a thread of silk, to the roadrunner who flies, but not too far, and would rather run to...

12

Please, baby, please
Lee, Spike.
Paper Book
From moments fussy to fond, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Spike Lee and his wife, producer Tonya Lewis Lee, present a behind-the-scenes look at the chills, spills, and unequivocal thrills of bringing up baby! Go back to bed, baby, please, baby, please.

13

Lola gets a cat
McQuinn, Anna
Paper Book
In this Lola Reads picture book, Lola learns about caring for a pet in this simple and sweet story about welcoming a new kitty. Lola wants a cat, but Mommy says taking care of a pet is a lot of work. So Lola does her homework. At the library she finds books about cats and pet...

14

Everywhere babies
Meyers, Susan.
Paper Book
With an irresistible rhyming text and delightfully endearing illustrations, here is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best. Every day, everywhere, babies are born. They're kissed and dressed...

15

A book of sleep
Na, Il Sung.
Paper Book
When the sky grows dark and the moon glows bright, everyone goes to sleep . . . except for the watchful owl! With a spare, soothing text and beautifully rich and textured illustrations of a starry night, this is the perfect “book of sleep.” Join the...

16

Puppy truck
Pinkney, J. Brian
Paper Book
A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019! Find out what happens when a boy who wants a puppy gets a truck instead in this simple and sweet picture book from Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney. Vroom...beep...bark! Carter...

17

All the world
Scanlon, Elizabeth Garton.
Paper Book
All the world is here. It is there. It is everywhere. All the world is right where you are. Now. Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning till night, this book affirms the importance of all...

18

Sheep in a jeep
Shaw, Nancy
Paper Book
"A rollicking, simple story that never loses its bounce" --Boston Globe Here they come, a flock of rollicking sheep in their sturdy red jeep. Will their outing be a success? Jeep goes splash! Jeep goes thud! Jeep goes deep in gooey mud! Here is a lively, funny tale,...

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